DET. SANDRA BROOKS

985-446-7295

TRAFFIC STOP LEADSTO DRUG ARREST OF WANTED MAN

OnThursday, (March 21, 2002) at approximately 2:18 p.m., a Thibodaux PoliceOfficer conducted a traffic stop in the 1200 block of St. Charles St. when hereportedly noticed that the driver was not wearing a seatbelt.

According to the Officers report, while conducting a traffic stop withthe driver of a green 1993 Lexus 400, he observed what appeared to be a bag ofsuspected marijuana.The driver,who was identified as Ashley Smith, 24, of 503 Billy St. Houma, reportedlybecame very irate towards the Officers upon making contact with him.At that time, an officer reportedly smelled a strong odor of whatappeared to be marijuana coming from Smith.

Smith reportedly admitted to the officer that he had been smokingmarijuana and that there was a large amount of money in his car, but denied theofficers consent to search the vehicle.Smithwas subsequently placed under arrest and taken to the Thibodaux PoliceDepartment for booking, during which the officers learned that Smith had atleast two outstanding arrest warrants from the Louisiana Probation and Parolefor his arrest.

Officers then had the vehicle towed away from thescene and obtained a search warrant for the vehicle. A subsequent search of thevehicle turned up a gallon sized zip lock bag packed with suspected marijuanaweighing approximately 888 grams with a street value totaling over $5000.00, asmall scale, a partially smoked marijuana cigarette, a blue baggie containingsmall amount of marijuana, cigarette wrapping papers and $4700.00 in cash. Thecombined total of cash and drugs totaled over $9700.00

Smith wascharged with the following:

(1)one count of Seat Belt Violation

(1)one count of Possession of drug paraphernalia

(1)one count of Possession with the intent to distribute Marijuana

(2)two counts of Fugitive from other Agency (warrant arrest for 2 counts ofPossession of Cocaine)

Smith was later transported to the Lafourche ParishDetention Center with no bond set at news release time.